Biography

Eric Sutulovich returns to the Falcons for a seventh season as the club’s assistant special teams coach. He will continue to work with Special Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong to make sure the Falcons special teams units remain among the very best in the NFL. Last season, P Matt Bosher punted 67 times for 3063 yards with 27 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line and just four touchbacks. His 40.8 net yards per punt ranked sixth in the NFL and he recorded a career long 66-yard kick in the season opener against the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, K Matt Bryant connected on 29 of 32 field goal attempts (90.6 percent) and led the NFL with seven field goals of 50-yards or longer.

In 2013, Atlanta’s special teams unit allowed 7.6 yards per punt return, which ranked among the NFL leaders. Under the guidance of Sutulovich, top-tier gunners WR Drew Davis and RB Antone Smith led the coverage units. Davis and Smith combined for 18 special teams tackles while forcing opponents to settle for 23 fair catches with 26 of P Matt Bosher’s kicks landing inside the 20-yard line.

Bosher also experienced a career and single-season franchise-best 41.1 net punting average in 2013. Working closely with Coach Armstrong, Sutulivich has assisted in developing Bosher into one of the top punters in the NFL. His 41.1 net average in 2013 ranked sixth in the NFL.

With assistance from Sutulovich in 2012, Atlanta’s kicking game was propelled by kicker Matt Bryant as the Falcons posted a 13-3 record and won their second NFC South Division crown since 2010. Bryant produced another solid season in 2012, by connecting on 33 of 38 field goals, all 44 PATs and tallied a career and franchise single-season high 143 points. Bryant not only set the franchise mark for points in a season, he also set a new franchise mark for most field goals made in a season (33).

Atlanta’s kickoff and punt return teams continued to perform at a high level due to the coaching of Sutulovich. The Falcons ranked 10th in the NFL in average starting field position (29.0 yard line) in part to Atlanta’s return game. On the flipside, Atlanta’s coverage troops managed to help the Falcons rank fifth in opponents average starting field position (25.5 yard line) in 2012.

With Sutulovich’s help, Atlanta’s punt coverage unit led the League in punt return average by allowing just 4.8 yards per return in 2011. In addition to that impressive number, the Falcons special team’s unit forced their opponents to start a NFL-high 62 drives inside their 20-yard line.

Individual achievements were also a highlight in 2011 for the Birds special teams. K Matt Bryant set a franchise record for most consecutive field goals made in team history with 27 when he connected on a 47-yarder in the third quarter at Detroit in Week 7. Rookie LB Akeem Dent collared 19 special teams tackles, which was tied for the second-highest total in a single-season in club history.

In 2010, through Sutulovich’s assistance, the Falcons special teams continued to excel. Atlanta’s kickoff unit held opponents to an NFL-best average starting position of their own 22.2-yard line after kickoffs. The Falcons were led by specialist Eric Weems who averaged 27.5 yards per kickoff return, which ranked third in the NFL and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Sutulovich came to Atlanta after working for one season with the Detroit Lions as an Offensive Assistant in 2008. His original foray into the NFL came with the Houston Texans in its inaugural campaign in 2002. Sutulovich was the team’s Assistant Special Teams Coach for four seasons (2002-05).

Prior to his stint in the NFL, Sutulovich spent one season as a football assistant for the University of Kansas. He also spent time in the collegiate ranks with Fort Scott Community College as the Offensive Coordinator (2001), the University of Pittsburgh as the offensive graduate assistant (2000-01) and Louisiana Tech as the offensive graduate assistant (1997-99).

Sutulovich and his wife, Melissa, have two daughters, Sage and Ellie, and two sons, Maddax and Gabe.

Eric Sutulovich returns to the Falcons for a seventh season as the club’s assistant special teams coach. He will continue to work with Special Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong to make sure the Falcons special teams units remain among the very best in the NFL. Last season, P Matt Bosher punted 67 times for 3063 yards with 27 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line and just four touchbacks. His 40.8 net yards per punt ranked sixth in the NFL and he recorded a career long 66-yard kick in the season opener against the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, K Matt Bryant connected on 29 of 32 field goal attempts (90.6 percent) and led the NFL with seven field goals of 50-yards or longer.

In 2013, Atlanta’s special teams unit allowed 7.6 yards per punt return, which ranked among the NFL leaders. Under the guidance of Sutulovich, top-tier gunners WR Drew Davis and RB Antone Smith led the coverage units. Davis and Smith combined for 18 special teams tackles while forcing opponents to settle for 23 fair catches with 26 of P Matt Bosher’s kicks landing inside the 20-yard line.

Bosher also experienced a career and single-season franchise-best 41.1 net punting average in 2013. Working closely with Coach Armstrong, Sutulivich has assisted in developing Bosher into one of the top punters in the NFL. His 41.1 net average in 2013 ranked sixth in the NFL.

With assistance from Sutulovich in 2012, Atlanta’s kicking game was propelled by kicker Matt Bryant as the Falcons posted a 13-3 record and won their second NFC South Division crown since 2010. Bryant produced another solid season in 2012, by connecting on 33 of 38 field goals, all 44 PATs and tallied a career and franchise single-season high 143 points. Bryant not only set the franchise mark for points in a season, he also set a new franchise mark for most field goals made in a season (33).

Atlanta’s kickoff and punt return teams continued to perform at a high level due to the coaching of Sutulovich. The Falcons ranked 10th in the NFL in average starting field position (29.0 yard line) in part to Atlanta’s return game. On the flipside, Atlanta’s coverage troops managed to help the Falcons rank fifth in opponents average starting field position (25.5 yard line) in 2012.

With Sutulovich’s help, Atlanta’s punt coverage unit led the League in punt return average by allowing just 4.8 yards per return in 2011. In addition to that impressive number, the Falcons special team’s unit forced their opponents to start a NFL-high 62 drives inside their 20-yard line.

Individual achievements were also a highlight in 2011 for the Birds special teams. K Matt Bryant set a franchise record for most consecutive field goals made in team history with 27 when he connected on a 47-yarder in the third quarter at Detroit in Week 7. Rookie LB Akeem Dent collared 19 special teams tackles, which was tied for the second-highest total in a single-season in club history.

In 2010, through Sutulovich’s assistance, the Falcons special teams continued to excel. Atlanta’s kickoff unit held opponents to an NFL-best average starting position of their own 22.2-yard line after kickoffs. The Falcons were led by specialist Eric Weems who averaged 27.5 yards per kickoff return, which ranked third in the NFL and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Sutulovich came to Atlanta after working for one season with the Detroit Lions as an Offensive Assistant in 2008. His original foray into the NFL came with the Houston Texans in its inaugural campaign in 2002. Sutulovich was the team’s Assistant Special Teams Coach for four seasons (2002-05).

Prior to his stint in the NFL, Sutulovich spent one season as a football assistant for the University of Kansas. He also spent time in the collegiate ranks with Fort Scott Community College as the Offensive Coordinator (2001), the University of Pittsburgh as the offensive graduate assistant (2000-01) and Louisiana Tech as the offensive graduate assistant (1997-99).

Sutulovich and his wife, Melissa, have two daughters, Sage and Ellie, and two sons, Maddax and Gabe.